Remember the Transit of Mercury on May 9th, 2016

     In August we will have the wonderful opportunity in the United States to observe an eclipse of the Sun.  Many are anticipating this event and in truth, it will come up fast and past equally as fast. Last May we got to experience the transit of Mercury last May 9th, 2016.  Transits of Mercury occur in either May or in November. The next transit of Mercury that we will see is on November 11th, 2019 and for us in the Western U.S. that transit will already be occurring when it comes into view of our solar telescopes. The next May transit of Mercury will occur on May 7th, 2049 which for me, will make me 84. I may or most likely will not be around for that (though I hope I am).  Here is a sketch from that transit to enjoy. It was made with my Lunt Solar Scope and a warning to NEVER look at the Sun without the proper protection or equipment, NEVER!

This was done in my Lunt LS35s with a 20mm Pentax XW.

The two above are done in the same solar scope, Lunt LS35s with a 10mm Pentax XW.  The top one is the sketch the bottom is the digital process in GIMP.  You can decide which you prefer and that will be the basis for my next post. 

Sirius A & B Seeing the Pup

I believe I have written on this before, and the sketch below is from a year ago, but I never posted it. It shows the view in my 17.5" dob with the curved spider vanes and how easily the pup is seen in that scope. In both my 14" and my 10" which have 4 vane spiders, I have seen the pup or Sirius B before, but the diffraction spike in some ways helped, and in other ways subtracted from the view. I will say that for me, the curved spider, as long as it is attached correctly and doesn't hinder collimation or holding collimation, makes a difference in the view on this object, and on other objects. For me it is not that the diffraction spike is gone, that light is still in the field of view, it is simply spread out and that to me is the difference. A bright star next to a deep sky object like a galaxy does the same thing. It allows the main object, the galaxy to be viewed without the diffraction spikes.

Now having said that, I have used my diffraction spikes on my other telescope to guide me in to faint objects and in this case, to guide me into seeing where the pup is.  So to curve or not to curve should not be based on the view, it is a consideration but it is based on the fact on whether the scope can maintain collimation with the vane in the upper ring or structure.  In my case in my 17.5" I needed to a make my own adjustments to how the spider connects to the ring to secure the spider and stop collimation shift.  Not a problem, that is why I have the scope I do, I like to tinker and play and it makes the scope more mine than not.  If you don't like to tinker, then get a scope you don't have to mess with. So, here is how Sirius looks like from my 14" and 10" scopes.

The above is Sirius A and B (the Pup) from a 14" with 4 vane spider. 

Above is Sirius A & B in my 4" refractor, an Explore Scientific AR102. 

The view of Sirius A & B in my 17.5" dob with curved spiders. 

Betelgeuse Goes Supernova! Kidding. Supernova Images . . . .

Okay, just kidding but for a second, I bet a few of you were running outside to curse me when you looked up and saw Betelgeuse still in its normal state and position in Orion. Still a dream of mine to be living when the light from that explosion reaches us 654 light years later!

So if I haven't mentioned this, I suffer from Celiac Disease, and am extremely sensitive. Last Friday at work we go out once a quarter for "birthday lunch" and I went this time. We went to that Gluten Free bastion Sizzler. I figured I could get away with a salad, but nope, there was cross contamination in the salad bar somewhere and I got gluten. Well, I will spare you the immediate after affects of when I get gluten, but I will share that for the next five days it is one of intestinal upset, stomach upset, joint aches, heavy fatigue and foggy thinking, more foggy than normal.  So last night I could not sleep so I decided to have some fun and using GIMP made some fun images I think.

As the title suggests I focused on Betelgeuse after doing a practice capture of SN1987A at the moment that the progenitor star Sanduleak −69° 202 collapses, rebounding and the shock wave broke out of the main star.  Sanduleak −69° 202, was a giant blue supergiant, about 20 solar masses in size and it was thought at that time, that blue super giants never went supernova. Sanduleak −69° 202 disproved that theory though it did show that blue super giants are natural progenitors of supernova, their dense inward material make them not as luminous as their red supergiant cousins which are far more luminous and thus more are seen.  Here is my sketch digitally created of the death throes of Sanduleak −69° 202, and then a poor rendition of the SNR that has remained. Got to fix those stars . . .  If you want to read more here are some links to SN1987A (just celebrated 30 years since the light first reached us on February 23/24 1987).  Wikipedia LINK   Earth/Sky SN1987A LINK (has a few ads to subscribe); Hubble Heritage LINK.

Next I sketched digitally my view of Betelgeuse at the moment it goes supernova. Betelgeuse is as most red super giants do, shedding mass at an extremely high rate as it nears the end of its life.  It truly is one of the most luminous and largest stars in the night sky.  It is estimated to be between 10 to 20 solar masses.  This image which I "borrowed" from Wikipedia shows how big and massive Betelgeuse is in comparison to our solar system.  Also, note, it is not a round star, but it is boiling as it is ejecting its mass as it enters the final stage of its evolution.

Above is a more distant view of Betelgeuse going supernova. 

Above is a closer look of Betelgeuse going supernova and ejecting a gamma ray burst or I can assume this is the breakout from the main star as the shock wave after collapsing, is cocked, and then shot out breakout out of the star and the surrounding material. 

There you have it. Just some fun on my part and fun messing around with the tool.   

A Few Objects in Canis Major

I managed to get out for several hours in the West Desert of Utah.  Fun driving up to the site! Anyway, had some great views and did some sketching. Of course pics out to the site (these were taken a couple days before but give a sense of the conditions). Dry, a little rutty but still an easy drive.

A little muddy here, not bad, nothing the Outback can't handle! 

1. NGC 2207 & IC 2163 merging Galaxies in Canis Major.  Feb. 25th, 2017, 07:30pm MST; Antoniadi II, FR006; 17.5" Dob Star Catcher; 22mm T4 Nagler, 10mm & 5mm Pentax XW; Paracorr Type II. 

The top image is using the 5mm Pentax XW  at around 450x (Paracorr II). Second image is with the 10mm Pentax XW and 22mm Nagler.  Reversed image from normal of course since I am using a dob. IC 2163 is the tine bright extension on the right and NGC 2207 is the large spiral galaxy on the left. There was a hint of structure, mottling on the left side of NGC 2207 which I have interpreted as the arms, which seem to be right in their placement.  These two galaxies are actually doing a fly by each other with IC 2163 moving clockwise around the larger spiral NGC 2207.  In about a billion years they will merge and form an elliptical galaxy.  Until then as the rotate around and through each other, dust will be stirred up and there will e lots of star and planetary formation in these galaxies. They are not so well known, but easily seen. I have sketched them before in my 10" and 14" dobs.  Well worth the time. 

2. NGC 2283 a spiral galaxy in Canis Major. Feb. 25th 2017; 08:20pm MST; Antoniadi II, clear, cold, 30 degrees F; FR006; This is a small, dim, even surface brightness galaxy that is the smudge on the sketch. Took longer to sketch in the field stars than sketch the galaxy! 

3. NGC 2327 a Reflection Nebula in Canis Major.  Feb 25th, 2017, 09:00 MST; Antoniadi II, clear, cold 28 degrees F; FR006 Juniper Grove; 17.5" dob, Star Catcher; 22mm T4 Nagler, 10mm Pentax XW; DGM NB and OIII Filter (not needed as it is a reflection nebula and filters did not help) and Paracorr Type II. 

This is a wonderful object to observe and one often overlooked.  My sketch should be brighter but there is lots going on here.  That U shape band of stars in the middle left leads to a wonderful area of nebulosity that has a few filaments and uneven edges. Second area of brighter nebulosity on the middle right after a dark area or dark nebula area with stars around it. Rich star field. Held my observing interest for some time..

4. NGC 2211 (brighter one upper left with small bright core) and NGC 2212 (smaller in the middle below NGC 2211), merging galaxies in Canis Major.  Feb 25, 2017, FR006 Juniper Grove; Antoniadi II, clear, cold; 10:05pm MST; 17.5" dob Star Catcher; 22mm T4 Nagler & 10mm Pentax XW, Paracorr Type II. 

NGC 2211 is basically faint, small, elonganted NE to SW and has a small bright core. NGC 2212 is roundish, very faint and no structure evident. Images of NGC 2212 will show that the galaxy has been distributed by NGC 2211 as they begin the gravitational dance of merging to become an elliptical galaxy. 

5. NGC 2318 Open Cluster in Canis Major. Feb 25th, 2017; FR006 Juniper Grove; 10:30pm MST;Antoniadi II, clear, cold, 25 degrees F; 17.5" dob Star Catcher; 22mm T4 Nagler, Paracorr Type II.  

In truth in the RNCG this is listed as not being an open cluster or an object, basically just a series of Milky Way based Stars Herschel used as he scanned, using the bright star in the middle as a guide star. Either way, this is what is there, and there doesn't appear to be an Open Cluster structure to this so I stay it is just a bunch of stars. 

6. NGC 2362 Tau Open Cluster in Canis Major. Feb 25th, 2017; FR006 Juniper Grove; 11:00pm MST; Antoniadi II, clear, cold, 25 degrees F; 17.5" dob, Star Catcher; 22mm T4 Nagler and 7mm Pentax XW; Paracorr Type II. 

There is not doubt that this IS an open cluster of stars. The star Tau Canis Majoris dominates the central field with its blue hue and size.  I felt I captured the region and NGC 2362 quite well here and really like the sketch.  These are stars that formed together from a nebulous cloud and will over time, disperse away from each other, with the larger stars going supernova. The other bright star here is UW Canis Majoris a rare Blue Supergiant star 2000 light years from us and thought to be a member of the Tau Canis Majoris Open Cluster, thus why I included it. 

Saw Jupiter during the day

     I have read and listened to others discuss how they can see naked-eye some of the major planets during the day. I personally have done this with Venus but never with Jupiter or Saturn. Well, it helps if you have a large, extremely large celestial object to help you find it and on Wednesday, I have the waning gibbous moon to help me out.

I had gone to work at 7:00am at a local high school to help a teacher who is learning Google Classroom and at 8:05am I had to go to my car to get my Chromebook. While walking, and in truth, without thinking about it except that I had seen where Jupiter was located in position to the moon at 5:30am when I took our dog out, I looked up and then down and to the left and what to my wondering eyes did appear? Nope not a sleigh pulled by reindeer with a fat jolly old elf, we are past that now, far past that, but I saw the sharp reflection of light off a planet, a star like reflection that held steady.  I looked away, and then back and sure enough I quickly located Jupiter and held it. In this case averted vision would lose it, you had to use direct vision. I did it again a few times when a friend an Assistant Principal came walking by during his sweep of the parking lot with student, and asked me what I was being weird about. I told him, showed him where to look and nope, his 47 year old eyes couldn't locate it.  The 17 year old student easily captured it and thought it was cool he could see Jupiter during the day.  I chalk my experience up to knowing where to look, and the fact the Sun wasn't that high up in the sky, Jupiter and the Moon were lower in the sky and conditions for seeing were really good.

So next time you know where to look, in the early morning as the Sun is climbing in the sky, see if you can spot one of our major planets that stays in the sky after sunrise. You just may surprise yourself like I did.

Jorge's Pics of Winter Sky at Pit n Pole Feb 16th, 2017

Well, I am being kinda of bad here and sharing some pictures that my friend Jorge took from out at Pit n Pole last night.  I had some meetings I had to attend last night so the best I got was in the backyard with the 4" refractor. That's okay though.  Anyway, these were taken by my friend Jorge and they show the Winter Sky at the observing location Pit n Pole.  The snow is gone, the road are dry for the most part, but I am sure it is a little dewy out there since the Pit is always dewy this time of the year. I know my observing spot down is at 35 degrees with 50 percent humidity so much better than the Pit, but much farther out. Roads are dry with 4x4 or ATV's having cause winter ruts in the dirt roads out there from playing this winter.  Here are these incredible shots by Jorge!

The two above show the Winter Milky Way and many wonderful winter objects, some that I labeled in the bottom shot.  

A closer shot above of Orion's Belt and Sword region. 

Orion's Belt and Messier 42, the Orion Nebula and Messier 43. 

Jorge driving out from the Pit n Pole. Road is dray and good! Last night was probably the last good night, with the moon rising at 11:05pm. That would have given a good 5 hours of observing if you or I had gone out early yesterday afternoon, set up and was ready when it got dark. Sometimes you just have to do that!